Health Promotion Program hosts the Great American Smokeout at UH Mānoa

Every year 443,000 people in the United States die of tobacco related illnesses and 3,000 non-smokers die of lung cancer due to second-hand smoke exposure. In response to this serious health concern, the University Health Services Health Promotion Program is hosting their annual “Great American Smokeout” health fair on Thursday, November 15 from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at UH Mānoa Campus Center Mall.

The Great American Smokeout is an annual nationwide event created by the American Cancer Society to encourage smokers to use November 15 as the day to quit smoking or to make a plan to quit smoking. By doing so, smokers will be taking an important step towards a healthier life.

The Great American Smokeout provides information about alternatives to smoking and the importance of reducing second-hand smoke exposure. Several organizations will showcase the services and resources available on the Mānoa campus and within the community. There will be interactive games and displays, as well as free giveaways and other prizes.

This year’s theme is Clean Air, Clean `Aina and participants include: the Hawaii Tobacco Quitline, Coalition for a Tobacco-Free Hawaiʻi, UH Mānoa School of Dental Hygiene, UH Mānoa Student Recreation Services, UH Mānoa Public Health Hui Ola Pono, the American Cancer Society, REAL, Healthways, Aloha Medical Mission Dental, and Waikīkī Health Center. In addition, the Hawaiʻi Bone Marrow Donor Registry and the Blood Bank of Hawaiʻi will be participating and music will be provided by KTUH.

The Great American Smokeout is just one of the many activities sponsored by the University Health Services Health Promotion Program to promote a tobacco-free campus community. This year, the Health Promotion Program has also developed a campus-wide tobacco social norms campaign. Colorful posters and shuttle bus advertisements can be seen around campus highlighting the fact that 9 out of 10 UH Mānoa students choose to be tobacco-free. The goal of this campaign is to heighten awareness and make UH Mānoa a healthier place to learn, work, and live.

For more information, please contact Lisa Kehl or Kristen Scholly at 956-3574.